Parcells Starts Early On Fitting Patriots Into His Mold

It's early, but coach Bill Parcells' evaluation of the Patriots is proceeding rapidly.

This weekend, Parcells and his staff are at the scouting combine in Indianapolis evaluating college players in preparation for the NFL draft April 25-26.

And there are decisions to be made regarding players available during the free agent signing period in March.

"We're looking at some free agents, but that's a decision Bill has to make," Patriots offensive coordinator Ray Perkins said. "You've got two different kinds of free agents, you've got the draft, you've got players out there that might give you a year or two. As far as the makeup of the team, there are several different avenues and I know that Bill is looking at each one of those so that we don't leave any stone unturned."

It took Parcells, who was hired Jan. 21, a little more than a week to hire 11 assistants. The release of five players last week, including veterans Robbins, Tardits, 27, and Stanley, 30, also came swiftly.

Parcells and the assistants have looked at film of all the Patriots' games last season.

Robbins, 30, was an aging safety who was pretty much used up when the Patriots signed him last year in Plan B after he had played for the Denver Broncos. Tardits, signed as a free agent in 1990, was frequently injured and never a factor. Stanley was an average kick returner.

Their release and that of guard Scott Bowles and cornerback John Granby is an indication Parcells' Patriots won't tolerate lack of productivity or less than complete commitment.

"We're just kind of looking for athletic skills, effort and toughness, those things that are inherent in any style of play," Patriots defensive coordinator Al Groh said.

The speed with which Parcells has moved has been helped by a

staff of assistants who are largely familiar with his style and philosophy. It may or may not play a big part in how quickly the Patriots are able to turn things around.

"We know Bill's philosophy basically at this point in our careers," Groh said. "For most of us, his philosophy is also our philosophy.

"There's compatibility of philosophy and there's systems that at least in foundation are already established."

Groh coached linebackers under Parcells with the Giants in 1989-91. He replaced Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator of the Giants when Belichick was hired as Cleveland Browns coach Feb. 5, 1991.

Groh coached linebackers last season in Cleveland. He left Belichick to rejoin Parcells.

"There are lots of right ways to do it," Groh said. "There is not a wrong way and a right way. Our way of doing it is a strong emphasis on power, a strong emphasis on preparation and a strong emphasis on endurance, during the course of a game and during the course of a season."

Perkins, who has been coach of the Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Alabama and Arkansas State, said the staff Parcells has assembled is the best he has worked on.

"He's surrounded himself with people that the game and winning means a lot to," Perkins said. "All have had experience in the league and three or four have had experience coaching championship caliber football. So they've been there. They know some of the things that are necessary that it takes to get there.

"He had two years to figure out who he wanted on his staff if and when he took a job."

Special assistant Dante Scarnecchia was the only assistant coach from the Patriots' 1992 staff hired by Parcells. He will work with special teams coach Mike Sweatman and help coach the linebackers.

Retaining Scarnecchia, who coached the team for seven games last season when Dick MacPherson was ill, gave Parcells someone with first-hand knowledge of the players.

Scarnecchia said the time he has spent with Parcells and other members of the staff makes him think the Patriots will soon begin to resemble the type of teams Parcells coached in New York.

"From the defensive side it seems like pretty much what you saw with the Giants is what you're going to get here in terms of style of play," Scarnecchia said. "That seems to be the nature of the conversations we've been having.

"We haven't really discussed what the philosophical approach is going to be, but as you evaluate personnel you quickly learn we're looking for certain guys to do certain things and it sounds like the style of play in New York."

Parcells has rejected the notion that all he wants is big, tough teams that control the ball, play great defense and doesn't want to open up offensively.

But Perkins has a conservative style.

"It's been proven over the years that you have to run effectively week in and week out in order to win in this league," Perkins said. "I favor an offense that's going to eat up a certain amount of time on the clock. Possession-type offense that emphasizes running the football. We will run the football. -DE Updated: YY93 MM02 DD17